The chef has been retained, the dog has almost been recruited, and now one more crucial piece of the White House jigsaw has been resolved: the interior designer.

Michael Smith, a Californian steeped in the flourishes and mores of old Europe, is to revamp the White House to present an interior more suited to the Obamas' forward-looking, change-driven agenda.

Or as Smith told the design magazine Domino last year: "I would love to redecorate the White House - I am sick of the paint colour!"

The choice of Smith, 44, appears to be the first executive decision by the incoming First Lady. In a statement, Michelle Obama said: "Michael shares my vision for creating a family friendly feel to our new home and incorporating some new perspectives from some of America's greatest artists and designers."

Smith promised to reflect the family's style: "The family's casual style, their interest in bringing 20th-century American artists to the forefront and utilising affordable brands and products will serve as our guiding principles as we make the residence feel like their home."

After studying at Otis College of Art in Los Angeles and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London before opening a furniture shop and design company in California, Smith was named designer of the year by Elle Décor magazine in 2003.